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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. W. KITTERMAN. HORSE BREAKER (1R HUBBLE.

Patented May 16, 1893.

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- (No Model.)

G. w. KITTBRMAN, HORSE BREAKER 0B. HOBBLE.

Patented May 16,1893;

Wzineas as Q Q fii Q? 7 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'GEORGE WASHINGTON KITTERMAN, OF PERU, ILLINOIS.

HORSE BREAKER OR HOBBLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,326, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed January 20, 1892. Serial No. 418,717- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE WASHINGTON KITTERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Peru, in the county of Lasalle and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Horse Breaker or Hobble, of which the following is a specification.

. My invention relates to an improvement in horse breakers or hobbles, its object being to produce devices constructed'in such manner that by their application a horse can be cured of vicious habits. I

A further object is to produce simple and efficient devices whereby a horse can be kept under the constant control of an operator.

A further object is to provide devices constructed in such manner that a horse can be kept from moving during a surgical operation.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating my invention. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detail views. Fig. 5 is a View illustrating a horse having my improvements applied thereto.

A A represent two pulleys,'supported by frames A The frames A are provided with notches a for the reception of a link 0, Whereby the two pulley frames A A areconnected together. A leather strap D is adapted to be supported by the surcingle or other part of the harness of a horse. Ropes B 13 pass over the pulleys A A and at their ends are passed through eyes or loops at of a buckle E, in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thus securing said buckles to the ends of the ropes. The larger end of the buckle is made with a cross bar 0 whereby a large loop 0' is produced. A strap F is doubled upon itself and perforated at a point between its ends for the reception of the tongue of a buckle d. The strap F is also provided in its ends with aligned perforations e whereby said strap may be buckled about the leg of a horse, said strap also passing through the loop 0 of the buckle or fastener E. A combined pad or cushion and loop G encircle the strap F where it is buckled together in order to prevent injury to the leg of the horse. This pad or cushion is preferably composed of a section of rubber pipe provided at points between its ends with slots f, g h, and from the slots g, h to the ends of the tube, slotst' are made. The tubular pad or cushion thus constructed is made to encircle the strap F where the latter is buckled together, the slots permitting it to assume the curvature of the strap and the central slot f serving for the accommodation of the buckle or fastener E. v

The device thus constructed is adapted to be suspended from the surcingle encircling the horse as above alluded to. The straps F will be fastened above the knees and'hocks of the front and hind legs respectively of a horse, and the lengths of the two ropes B so adjusted as to be quite tight with the horse standing in its natural position. Thus attached to a horse the device operates as an absolute prevention of kicking, striking or running away, at the same time allowing the horse to walk, trot or pace. As the horse moves its feet the ropes B are kept properly adjusted by their corresponding movementover the pulleys A. The device so arranged and applied to the animal also operates as a hobble and can be safely applied to horses and colts in the pasture or stable, as it prevents kicking, j umping or rearing, and is without danger to the animal by reason of the shape of the pulleys A-and the leather suspension loop or strap D. With the above arrangement of the device, by passing the ropes B over the pulleys A running the ropes lengthwise of the horse the right hand rope 0n the right legs and the left themselves crosswise on the horse swinging around on the strap D; the horse finding it impossible to adopt any gait other than apace.

To use the device in surgical operations, the straps F-will be fastened just above the feet of the horse and in place of two short straps B, B, light ropesabout forty feet long will be employed and passed through the buckle E, and up over one of the pulleys, then back and forth from the horses feet to the pulleys until the four feet are connected with the pulleys by means of the rope. By a gentle draft on the rope by the operator the horse finds itself forced to stand still, or, if the operator chooses by more draft on the end of the rope, the horses feet can be gradually hand ropes of the left legs, the pulleys adjust drawn under his body and he be gen tly thrown tothe ground.

In order to break a kicking horse the straps carried by the rope B will be applied to the hind legs of the horse, and the rope B (being extended) will be passed through the loops or eyes attached to the bit and used as lines.

The device can be used in curing runaway horses or in breaking a colt, by applying the straps F carried by the rope B as above explained, tying the extended rope B to the surcingle, passing it through a loop of the buckle E at one front foot, then up over its pulley A then through eye of buckle E at the other front foot and up through an eye on the surcingle. By now pulling upon the extended rope B the horse will be made to come to the ground, resting on his front knees.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp 1. In a device for breaking animals, the combination with a link and a strap connected at one end to said link and at the other end adapted to be attached to the harness of the animal, of a pulley frame loosely attached to each end of said link, pulleys mounted in said pulley frames, ropes passing over said pulleys and straps at the ends of said ropes constructed and arranged to be applied to the legs of the animal, substantially as set forth.

2. In a device for breaking animals the combination with a link, a strap for suspending said link from the harness of an animal, and a pulley at each end of said link, of a rope passing over each pulley, buckles attached to said ropes, straps adapted to en circle the legs of a horse and pass through said buckles, and a tubular pad encircling said strap where its ends are connected together, substantially as set forth.

3. In a device for breaking animals, the combination with a strap adapted to encircle the leg of an animal and be connected together at its ends, of a tubular pad encircling said strap Where its ends are connected together, said strap being provided with slots whereby to cause it to conform to the shape of the strap, substantially as set forth.

4. In a device for breaking animals, the combination with a strap adapted to encircle the leg of an animal, and be fastened together at its ends, of a tubular slotted pad encircling said strap Where its ends are connected together, a buckle adapted to receive said strap and enter one of the slots in the tubular pad, and a rope attached to said buckle, substantially as set forth.

GEORGE WASHINGTON KITTERMAN.

Witnesses:

CHRISTOPHER Hoscnarr, J OSEPH KOBBEMANN. 

